08-14-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Freshwater Society building sits on a very prominent parcel. The main intersection is organized primarily for automobile speed (curb radii) and capacity (lane width) and not a safe, convenient place for people. The park -n -ride lot could be utilized in a more efficient, effective manner. I' PERFORMANCE DRIVEN DESIGN. Project Approach PLANNING APPROACH AND WORK PROGRAM LHB believes that the process of defining the future of a community's center through active engagement of stakeholders is the key to a successful planning approach, and a necessary ingredient for investing the community in the process of shaping their own collective evolution. It's a process that requires their commitment and participation, and one that requires dedication to a vision they forge for themselves. At the same time, it's often difficult for stakeholders to find ways to think and act objectively about their common future. They need a way of finding common ground and staking out a well -conceived and compelling path for the community's future. Our approach focuses on exploration and discovery, not presentation and reaction. This process is about sharing, learning, and even dreaming. We need to create an environment that invites that kind of thought, and one that offers the community a chance for their voices to be heard. Through town meetings, an on-site design workshop, a select group of outreach tools, and a task force charged with guiding the creation of this plan, we believe the local knowledge and insights of the community can be brought directly to the task of creating a vision for Navarre. We know that people who volunteer to share in this process have many demands on their time. We cannot burden them with "homework," but we need their insights and believe the time they invest will yield great rewards. So as we proceed, we can offer the opportunity to shape a legacy for Navarre, and Orono more broadly, and have great fun as we take on this important work. The work program that follows outlines a task -specific approach for planning the Navarre area. It focuses on an on-site design workshop—a two-day work session conducted in Navarre—where the entire focus of the activities will be the future of the area. We've also framed other tasks beyond the visioning process that will be necessary in the definition of the plan. While a great deal of attention is directed toward engagement of the community during an on-site design workshop, the input of stakeholders and the community should continue throughout the planning and implementation process. Our extensive experience with community engagement processes has allowed us to develop a large toolkit, ensuring that our process reaches the broadest possible audience, including those who don't generally participate in public meetings. The Task Force should be prominent at all critical decision points, the city council and other city boards and commissions should be updated regularly during the process, and the community should be informed and engaged through a continuing program of public meetings and reviews, open houses, online resources, and other briefings. Our experience tells us that this kind of a process really works, but we welcome modifications to the work program that will more directly address the needs of the community. City of Orono - Land Use Planning Services for the Navarre Area Plan